On 3/28/2019 9:41 PM, Jac Brown wrote:
"Terry Coombs" wrote in message
...
On 3/28/2019 8:48 PM, rbowman wrote:
On 03/27/2019 11:50 PM, Jac Brown wrote:
My initial thought was a screw extractor/easy out but the don't really
go small enough. The threaded part is only 5.5mm thick. The smallest
screw extractor is listed as 3mm which might well work with a hole
drilled into where the philips slots used to be.
https://www.thegrabitstore.com/collections/grabit-micro
I've never used one on plastic or the micro sizes but I've had
excellent results with standard machine screws. One end creates
something like a countersink in the damaged screw head. Then you
reverse the bit and it grabs. You do need a reversible drill motor.
It's a lot easier than drilling a pilot hole for a standard screw
extractor. They're the cat's nuts for deck screws no matter what
drive type. I've used them on damaged Torx fasteners on the bike too.
I was skeptical when I saw a set in the hardware store but I became
a true believer. Worse case you stall the drill motor or break off
the screw because they don't let go. It also avoids the trip to an
EDM shop when you break off the hardened extractor and are really
screwed so to speak.
* I read somewhere that alum will dissolve steel ... yup , just
checked it out , dissolves steel but doesn't affect aluminum .
Problem is that its head down in the car so not easy to dissolve
the broken extractor, the I spose it is unlikely to break with a
plastic screw. And the part the screw goes into is sheet metal
and just a small tab, not a hole is a metal plate.
Might be safer to just drill the plastic screw out I spose.
* Or do as I suggested and use a heated screwdriver to form a slot .
That last post of mine was aimed more specifically at rbowman , as steel
screws are often broken off in aluminum parts on motorcycles . Not that
I know anything about motorcycles , I only have 4 right now . But then
Harleys vibrate so much that corrosion doesn't have a chance to form .
--
Snag
Yes , I'm old
and crochety - and armed .
Get outta my woods !